Bonjour Paris...

After a bit of a disaster getting out of my hometown on Sunday morning ( there was no conductor on the train) which basically meant that we could not make the train to Paris, we eventually arrived there about an hour and 20 minutes later than we had planned. Which really was not too bad, considering we had to change trains in Brussels as well because the train we were on had broken down.
We quickly put that all behind us though, we were met at the Gare du Nord by my friend Marion who had been in Paris for a couple of days because of Paris Photo.
It had seemed a brilliant plan to meet up for lunch and in the end it was, but there is always this sticky moment when you mix two sets of friends, particularly when you know they are completely different in their ways and tastes. I ended up having to tell both Karin and Marion to behave, as we would only be all together for a couple of hours, this was my first time ever in Paris and hey, who's party was it anyway?
After that it all went swimmingly. We dropped our luggage off at the hotel, not one I would recommend for anything other than its location, and went our merry way.
We had decided to go and have a late lunch at Le Fumoir, and were met by these little boyscouts in front of the Louvre...
After a lovely meal, a gorgeous mousse au chocolat and pleasant surroundings, we strolled down Rue Rivoli...
This is where I realised I really need to get myself a better camera for next time.
Next morning we headed out to the Marche aux Puces St Ouen, only to find that even though it says it opens at 9, it very defenitely does not. This was actually a lot of fun, because we kept wandering around for hours, every time discovering new stalls that had just opened.
After having had our fill of bric a brac, we went up to Montmartre and a lovely cup of coffee within view of the Sacre Coeur...
What is it with French trees, even they are a lot prettier than Dutch ones...
After having enjoyed the views and braved the winds...
We walked down into Montmartre, past the painters...
Up to the restaurant where we had lunch...
This really was the tiniest place ever. We arrived at what I deduced later must have been 5 to two, and were seated. After that, nobody was allowed in anymore. The place was full, and you basically had to eat what they were giving you, but the food was great. Plus I do not think I have ever seen anyone serve a full house as efficiently as the owner did. It really was a joy.
Fortified we started just to walk around, which is fun, as that way you really see such a lot of things that otherwise you would not have seen. However, after a few hours my little legs decided they had enough and we took the Metro to Lafayette, as I really wanted to see the dome.
I could not get a good picture as it was already dark by the time we got in there and my camera did not really like that, but I think you get the idea of how pretty it is...
We walked around there for a bit, they have a great bookstore (trust me to find that one), and we treated ourselves to a gorgeous cup of tea there. Even though the French are not really tea drinkers themselves, they serve remarkably good tea everywhere you go.
By then it was time to find our way back to the Place de la Republique, have a glass of wine in the local cafe and prepare ourselves for the day ahead.
Are not you curious about what we did next? You will have to wait till tomorrow though.

Have a wondreous week!